If you’ve searched for patio cover pricing, you’ve probably found national averages that have nothing to do with what a cover actually costs in Temecula, Murrieta, or Wildomar. Here’s the local answer, from a contractor that has been building aluminum patio covers in Riverside County since 1992.
The short answer: a standard 10×20 aluminum patio cover installed by Elite Patios typically runs $4,000–$5,000, plus your city’s permit fee as a separate line item.
Everything below explains what moves that number up or down — and what to watch for when you compare quotes.
What’s Included in That Price
Our installed price covers the complete job: the engineered aluminum cover system, posts and footings, attachment to your home (for attached covers), haul-away of packaging, and cleanup. It does not include the city permit — more on that below, because how a contractor handles the permit tells you a lot about the quote.
The 6 Factors That Change Your Patio Cover Price
1. Size
Bigger covers cost more — more material, more spans, sometimes more posts. A 10×20 (200 sq ft) is the most common size we build and the benchmark for the $4,000–$5,000 range.
Here’s how three other common sizes typically run for an attached, non-insulated cover on existing concrete, with the permit as a separate line item:
- 10′ × 14′ or smaller: approximately $3,000–$4,000, including roughly one light or installation of one homeowner-supplied fan. Insulating this size adds about $700.
- 12′ × 24′: approximately $6,500–$7,500. The higher end can include electrical upgrades such as two lights or one fan. Insulating this size adds about $1,200.
- 20′ × 30′: approximately $18,000–$21,500. This size is always built insulated, since our standard non-insulated panel can’t span 20 feet. The lower end reflects the base insulated cover without electrical; the higher end includes electrical such as four lights and a fan, or roughly six lights with switching.
2. Style: Lattice, Solid, or Combination
An open lattice cover, a solid cover, and a combination cover use different amounts of material and framing. For what each style does, see our guides to solid patio covers, lattice patio covers, and combination covers.
We don’t publish specific price differences between styles yet — look for dedicated guides on solid, lattice, and combination covers that go deeper into how each style is built.
3. Material Line: Alumawood, DuraCool, or 4K Aluminum
Elite Patios installs Alumawood, DuraCool, and 4K aluminum systems — all embossed aluminum that gives you a wood look without termites, rot, or repainting. Pricing varies by line and finish.
4. Attached vs. Freestanding
A freestanding cover needs its own posts and footings on all sides rather than borrowing support from your house, which affects cost. It’s the right call for spas, outdoor kitchens, and yards where the best spot isn’t against the wall. Because of the added footings, a freestanding cover can cost substantially more than an attached one — for a small project, potentially close to double, depending on footing requirements.
5. Extras: Fans, Lights, and Electrical
Ceiling fan beams, recessed lighting, and electrical runs are popular additions.
See the size examples above for how electrical upgrades affect price on specific projects — for instance, added lighting or a fan on the 12′ × 24′ and 20′ × 30′ examples.
6. Your City’s Permit — Always a Separate Line Item
Every city in our service area requires a permit for a patio cover, and fees differ city to city. At Elite Patios, the permit is always quoted as its own line item — it is never buried in the cover price. As verified examples: the City of Temecula and the City of Murrieta each typically run $700–$800, and the City of Wildomar runs $1,000–$1,500. For the full city-by-city breakdown, see our companion guide: Patio Cover Permits in Riverside County: City-by-City Costs.
A quote that doesn’t show the permit separately isn’t necessarily cheaper — it’s just less honest about where your money goes.
Why Aluminum Beats Wood on Total Cost
A wood patio cover in this climate needs restaining or repainting every few years and is a standing invitation to termites. An embossed aluminum cover gives you the wood look with essentially zero maintenance — no repainting, no rot, no termite treatments. Over 10–15 years, the total cost of ownership isn’t close.
How to Get a Real Number for Your Yard
Online estimates — including ours — are ranges. The real number comes from measuring your patio, checking your home’s attachment points, and talking through the style and finish you want. That’s a free visit, and you’ll leave with a written quote showing the cover price and the permit as two clear line items.
Call (951) 837-6180, schedule an appointment, or request a free quote.
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FAQ
How much is a 10×20 aluminum patio cover in Riverside County?
A standard 10×20 aluminum patio cover installed by Elite Patios typically costs $4,000–$5,000, plus the city permit fee as a separate line item (for example, $700–$800 in Temecula or Murrieta).
Does the patio cover price include the permit?
At Elite Patios, no — deliberately. The permit is always a separate line item on your quote so you can see exactly what the city charges versus what the cover costs. Any quote that hides the permit inside the price makes comparison shopping impossible.
Is a permit really required for a patio cover?
Yes, in every city we serve. An unpermitted cover can create problems at resale and with insurance. We handle the permit process as part of the job.
When requested, we pull the permit on the homeowner’s behalf in all cities we serve.
What does a small patio cover around 10′ × 14′ cost?
Plan on approximately $3,000–$4,000 for a small attached patio cover, roughly 10′ × 14′ or smaller. This assumes existing concrete suitable for attachment, non-insulated construction, and about one light or one homeowner-supplied fan; the permit is additional. Insulating this size adds about $700.
What does a 12′ × 24′ patio cover cost?
A non-insulated, attached 12′ × 24′ patio cover typically runs $6,500–$7,500. The higher end can include electrical upgrades such as two lights or one fan. Insulation adds about $1,200 for this size.
What does a 20′ × 30′ patio cover cost?
Plan on approximately $18,000–$21,500. This size is always built insulated, since our standard non-insulated panel can’t span 20 feet. The higher end reflects added electrical, such as four lights and a fan, or roughly six lights with switching.
Does a freestanding patio cover cost more than an attached one?
Yes. A freestanding cover needs its own footings on all sides instead of relying on your home’s structure, which adds cost — for a small project, it can run close to double the price of an equivalent attached cover, depending on footing requirements.
What’s the cheapest way to cover a patio?
An open lattice cover is generally the most economical style we build, and it still shades and cools your patio significantly. See lattice patio covers.